Intel makes the best NICs that I've ever used. When I get a laptop the first thing I do is throw in an Intel WiFi NIC. Glad to see they bundled that with the board, considering the Intel NIC is ~ $25 by itself.

I wish someone, especially Gigabyte, would find a way to fit an msata connecter on a mini atx motherboard. That the only thing keeping me from making the switch. The sound quality of the audio chipset doesnt really matter if youre using the hmdi port on the vid card with a tv.

I have this board and it has some issues when installing with Corsair H100i cooler. A line of capacitor is too close to the base that you have to make sure that the base of the cooler touches the CPU on that side.

I have this board and it has some issues when installing with Corsair H100i cooler. A line of capacitor is too close to the base that you have to make sure that the base of the cooler touches the CPU on that side.

I wish someone, especially Gigabyte, would find a way to fit an msata connecter on a mini atx motherboard. That the only thing keeping me from making the switch. The sound quality of the audio chipset doesnt really matter if youre using the hmdi port on the vid card with a tv.

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ASRock puts an mSATA connector on the underside of the board in their Z77E-ITX. Would be nice if Dave could review that one

i really dont think this specific layout is deserving of a 9.8....seems like a good product, BUT....

soooo many limitations

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I understand. You know, I thought long and hard about this board. At first..I wanted more.

But then, I read back on the conversations I had with Gigabyte about it...as I have had this product for a few months now(since September, actually), and going back over the initial emails, Gigabyte had originally wanted this product, designed this product...for business users. Not for home users.

Are you looking at this board for business use, or for HTPC/gaming? The context to which it is considered plays a large role in how well it should be viewed.

This board is not for overclocking. But used as the base for a "Do it All" system, with low-power, stability and longevity first priorities, since these are primary principals for the business market - It very plainly delivers on each of these. Bringingh that functionality...that stability..into the living room...that's a good thing.

Those other mITX products out there...they have different design ideals. size of the board alone does not make it an equal avenue for comparison. This difference is a big thing...you don't take a plain rubber rain boot, and compare it with a bunch of artic Sorrel boots, and how well it does at -40 C. Sure, they are both "boots"...but clearly a plain rubber boot isn't meant for sub-zero temperatures.

I understand. You know, I thought long and hard about this board. At first..I wanted more.

But then, I read back on the conversations I had with Gigabyte about it...as I have had this product for a few months now(since September, actually), and going back over the initial emails, Gigabyte had originally wanted this product, designed this product...for business users. Not for home users.

Are you looking at this board for business use, or for HTPC/gaming? The context to which it is considered plays a large role in how well it should be viewed.

This board is not for overclocking. But used as the base for a "Do it All" system, with low-power, stability and longevity first priorities, since these are primary principals for the business market - It very plainly delivers on each of these. Bringingh that functionality...that stability..into the living room...that's a good thing.

Those other mITX products out there...they have different design ideals. size of the board alone does not make it an equal avenue for comparison. This difference is a big thing...you don't take a plain rubber rain boot, and compare it with a bunch of artic Sorrel boots, and how well it does at -40 C. Sure, they are both "boots"...but clearly a plain rubber boot isn't meant for sub-zero temperatures.

Click to expand...

Looks like a good board for guys like me. People who enjoy gaming and such but don't OC or play with settings. Just want it to work and last.